Lock for switch-operating devices.



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' S. G. WELLS.

LOCK FOB SWITCH OPERATING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 1916.

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s, G. WELLS. LOCK FOR SWITCH OPERATING DEVICES.

m m a M W my J w v w H w APPLICATION flLED MAY 20. I916.

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SAMUEL Gr. WELLS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LOCK FOR SWITCH-OPERATING DEVICES.

Application filed May 20, 1916. Serial No. 98,951.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known t at I, SAMU L Gr- WELLs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locks for Switch-Operating Deviees,-of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in looks for switch-operating or signaling devices, such as are used in connection with railroads. Y

The object of this invention is the production of a switch-operating or signaling device which will be capable of ready and expeditious locking in position, and which, further, will be of durable and economical construction.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view, the invention. consists in the combinations and arrange ments of parts hereinafter described and claimed. y

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a switch-operating or signaling device embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-7-3 of Fig- 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the actuating handle in another position,

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs. 2 and 3 respectively, illustrating another form of the construction,

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a portion of the construction shown in Figfi 6,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to ig. 1, illustrating another form of the construction,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail vertical section of the construction shown in Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, illustrating still another form of the construction.

The invention is employed in connection with a switch-operating device or signal which, in general construction, is old and well known, involving a vertically disposed mast 11 carrying a target or signaling member 12 at its upper end. The lower end of ed for connection with the switch in con-' junction with which the same is employed, as will be readily understood. At the up.-

per end of the body or stand 13 is provided a stationary plate or table ll. Rotatably mounted above the table 14 is an arm 15 which is fixed to the mast 11 so that, upon swinging of said arm, Said mast will be riotated. Pivotally connected at 1.6 with-the outer end of arm 15 is a handle or lever 17, the construction being such, as will be seen, tha i ha d e is adapted for r lving upon a vertical axis co-incident with that of the ma l a d for pivotal mo ement about ho izonta xis, lo ed t 1.6. Formed in the outer edge of table-1d are two spaced notches 18 and 1 which are adapted f r engagemen by the hand e 17 in order to lock the same against revolving movement, and hence the 11 against rotary movement. The construction is such, that the handle 17 may be rocked into or out of engagement with the notches 1 8 19 by simply swinging the same upon its pivot 16, the switch being locked in adjusted position through engagement of said handle with one or the other of said notches. The device is so connected, with the switch with which the same cooperates, that when the handle 17 is in a position for engagement with the notch 18,, the main track will be open, and when said handle is in a position forengagement with the notch 1.9, the switch will be thrown to effect switching to the switch track or siding.

In order to effect locking of the actuating handle 17 in engagement with the notch 18, a lock 20 is employedwhich, in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, is mounted upon the upper side of the arm 15. Said lock embodies a spring-pressed pawl 21 which is adapted, upon rocking of the handle 17 into operative relation with the notch 18, to engage with a projection 22 at the upper end of said handle, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, thus effecting locking of said handle in this position. The construction is such, as will be seen, that said handle 17 is automatically locked in engagement with the notch 18, unlocking of the same, in order to throw the switch, being efiected only through the employment of a key which may be inserted through the key-hole 23 provided in the side of the housing of said lock. After unlocking of the actuating handle, the same will be automatically moved out of locked position, or to a position in which the same may not be engaged by the pawl 21, by means of a helical compression spring 24 which is arranged in a recess 25 formed in the bottom of notch 18, said spring being secured in position in said recess by a pin 26 which engages with the inner end thereof.

It is unnecessary to lock the actuating handle in a position in which the switch is thrown to closed position, inasmuch as this is not the normal position of the switch, the

switch being permitted to remain in this position, under ordlnary circumstances, for

onl a limited time or durin the switch ing of a train. For this reason, it is not desired to lock the actuating handle in engagement with the notch 19. To prevent the locking of said handle in this position, a wedge 27 is inserted in the bottom of said notch 19 which prevents the handle 17 from rocking to a position in which the pawl 21 may drop to position behind the projection 22, as clearly shown in Fig. i. The wedge 27, however, is not of sufficient width to prevent engagement of the actuating handle with the notch 19, inasmuch as it is necessary to permit of such engagement in order to effect holding of the actuating handle in either of its positions.

With the construction set forth then, it will be seen, that in the throwing of a switch, it is only necessary to unlock the handle 17, through the insertion of a key through the keyhole 23 of lock 20. This having been done, the actuating handle is moved automatically out of locked position by means of the spring 24. The handle is then rocked to fully horizontal position and turned for engagement with the notch 19. When dropped to engagement with notch 19, the switch will be held in switching position, the actuating handle being prevented from moving to locked position by means of the wedge 27. When the train has passed onto the branch track, and it is again desired to return the switch to initial position, it is only necessary to rock the handle 17 to horizontal position, swing the same over to registration with notch 18, and then press the same downwardly into engagement therewith. When this is done, said handle will be automatically locked in the latter position. At the present time the actuating handle is locked in the latter position through the employment of a padlock, which is not automatic in its operation, requiring removal of the same to permit of unlocking of the handle, in the first instance, and then requiring attachment and operation of the same to subsequently lock said handle in its initial position, after the switching operation. This, of course, requires considerable time which will be saved where removal of the lock is unnecessary, and where the same is automatically operated when the handle is moved to operative position, as is the case with applicants construction.

In the form. shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the lock 20 is carried by the actuating handle, the pawl 21' thereof being adapted to engage with a stop 22' which is provided at the under side of the table 14.

In the form shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the lock 20 is carried by the handle, close to the lower end thereof, so that the pawl 21" thereof is adapted for engagement with a stop 22 provided upon the body of stand 13.

In the form shown in Fig. 10, the lock 20 is mounted upon the under side of the table 14, the pawl 21 thereof being adapted for engagement with a stop 22 which is provided upon the actuating handle.

Although the various forms described are all different from the form first described, the variations are but slight, and the operation is practically the same in all cases, the arrangement, in each case, being such that the operating handle is automatically locked when moved into engagement with the slot 18, and in each case, the handle may be unlocked only through the use of a key inserted into the lock.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred forms of construction for carrying my invention into effect, these are capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of constructions set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim aS new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a switch-operating device comprising a stationary body; a pivotally and revolubly mounted handle, said body having two notches therein adapted for engagement by said handle for holding the latter in either of two positions against revolving movement; a key-operated lock permanently mounted on said handle and adapted to automatically lock said handle in engagement with one of said notches; and a stop inserted. in the bottom of the other notch for limiting inward movement of the handle into said notch and for preventing locking of said handle in engagement therewith, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a switch-operating device comprising a stationary body; a pivotally and revolubly mounted handle, said body having two notches therein adapted for engagement by said handle for holding the latter in either of two positions against revolving movement; a key-operated lock permanently mounted on said handle and adapted to automatically lock said handle in engagement with one of said notches; and a wedge inserted in the bottom of the other notch for limiting inward movement of the 10 handle into said notch and for preventing locking of said handle in engagement therewith, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL G. WELLS.

Witnesses:

JosHUA R. H. Po'r'rs, HELEN F. LILLIs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

